Easy Bookcase update

I’ve been planning this update to for months and finally got around to doing it this weekend.  I can’t believe I waited so long!  It literally took less than 45 minutes to do this project from start to finish.  How’s that for an instant update?  Here’s where it all began.

I have two of these bookcases, one on each side of the desk where our family computer sits.  I realized as I was doing this post that I’ve never taken a wide shot of the bookcases and the desk.  I guess they just never really inspired me.  That’s the problem.  These bookcases are okay, but they just need a little pizazz.

 

Here’s the same bookcase after.  Can you see the difference?  I added some left over grasscloth (free) from another project to the back.  Sorry for the bad picture quality.  This room is so dark and it’s really hard to get a good shot, but you get the idea.

 

The first step was to take down the bookcases, remove all the chotskies and get them outside.  Believe it or not, these things were super heavy!  But, Eric I was able to pull Eric away from football long enough to get help with the heavy lifting!

 

Now, here’s where I was able to save tons of time.  See those tiny screws?  I was able to take them all out and remove the back.

 

That left me with a nice flat piece of wood to use as a template to cut out two pieces of grasscloth. (one for each bookcase)  Cut the grasscloth just slightly smaller than your bookcase back, so that you can be sure the back will fit when you put it back on.  We used a utility knife to cut out the grasscloth.  It was super easy to do and reasonably safe.  You can see that Eric’s doing it here.  I don’t think he trusts my cutting skills, even though he’s the only one that has actually made an emergency room visit due to a really gross utility knife injury!

 

Once the grasscloth was cut out, I put double sided tape to the bookcase back.  Now, I know what you’re thinking, double stick tape will never hold the grasscloth, but once you add in the shelves, I promise it does.  I used it here on an office redo a few months back.  Plus, I might want to paint these bad boys one of these days, so I didn’t want anything stuck to them permanently.

 

Once you have your tape in place, apply the grasscloth.

 

Put the back into place, remember all those tiny screws and this is the final result!

 

Here’s bookcase number 1.

 

Here’s the before, so you don’t have to scroll all the way back up again.  (I’m lazy like that too.)

 

Here’s bookcase 2 after.  I really love how the grasscloth lightens up the back and makes the accessories really stand out.

 

So, what do you think?  What quick and easy update have you done lately?  I’d love to hear about it.  Remember, projects don’t always have to be complicated and time consuming to make a big difference in your home.  Little changes can do a lot!

 

I’m joining Kim over at Savvy Southern Style today.